Echo

Liverpool midfielder sent transfer message as Man United comparison made - 'we had no idea'

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SportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has been a transfer target for a number of clubs this summerCurtis Jones has been urged to resist the lure of Italy and fight for his place at Liverpool under new head coach Andoni Iraola.The Reds are open to selling Jones this summer with the midfielder in the last 12 months of his current contract and no signs of a new deal being agreed.The 25-year-old made 49 appearances for Liverpool last season - his most in a single campaign - but only 28 were as a starter, and he ended the campaign playing out of position at right-back.Inter Milan saw an offer of around £20million rejected for Jones earlier in the window with Liverpool valuing the player in excess of £30m, while Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also been interested.Jones, though, remains part of Iraola's squad and is expected to feature prominently in the United States tour, with the Reds taking on Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United over the next fortnight.And while Scotland international Scott McTominay has proven a success at Napoli after leaving Manchester United, former Inter defender Mikael Silvestre believes Jones would be better served staying at Anfield."We talk about Scott McTominay but we only get this type of reaction if a player is doing well," said Silvestre, who is currently director of football for Romanian side CFR Cluj."We had no idea McTominay would do as well as he’s done with Napoli. So for Curtis Jones, he has to decide whether or not he wants to go, and there’s got to be an agreement with the club."If he feels that under a new manager he can get the time and the opportunity to grab a place in the team should he work hard in training then I think he should stay."Liverpool are Liverpool and I think he’s got the best opportunity to show he has the mentality to stay and fight under a new manager."Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, Silvestre added: "A new manager means new opportunities and maybe he can show something different because so many of the other players will have been involved at the World Cup."They will come back later and tired from the tournament like Alexis Mac Allister.



Jones has an opportunity to show that he belongs at Liverpool and he can be an important player for Andoni Iraola."FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageChoose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCLiverpool FC transfer newsCurtis Jones